The beneficiaries of Molesey's vulnerability on Saturday were neighbours Kingstonian, who recorded their second win since being relegated to Ryman Division One.

Playing at Kingsmeadow, Molesey's start to the game was in sharp contrast to the end result as they took the lead with just three minutes on the clock.

The Elmbridge side had threatened to open the scoring a minute earlier when midfielder Russell Pym directed a curling free-kick towards the top corner of the Kingstonian goal that only a one-handed save by goalkeeper Chuck Martini prevented from finding the back of the net.

From the resulting corner, Molesey took the lead. Pym swung a high cross into the Kingstonian penalty area and Steve Willmore rose above the static defence to head past Martini.

The visitors could have added a second within a minute when Phil Ruggles found space on the edge of the Kingstonian box, but his powerfully-struck half-volley flew over the bar.

Encouraged by the early goal, Molesey dominated for the next 20 minutes, controlling the midfield and posing the greater attacking threat, while the home side struggled to find any fluency in their play.

In the ninth minute, the Kingstonian defence struggled to clear their lines when Molesey captain Paul Gower launched a long ball forward, which was headed on by Rob Gibbons into the path of Ruggles.

Only a poor first touch by the Molesey frontman prevented him from trying his luck against goalkeeper Martini and the defence scrambled the ball clear.

The home side fashioned their best chance of the opening period in the 12th minute when Martyn Lee sent a dangerous cross into the Molesey box, which neither Scott Corbett or Kenny Ojukwa, jumping at the far post, could reach.

The visitors threatened again a few minutes later when James Tyran lobbed the ball forward from midway inside his half for Ruggles to chase and only a last-ditch challenge from Julian Sills prevented the Molesey forward from getting a shot away.

Ruggles again went close to scoring in the 22nd minute when Pym swung a cross into the penalty area from wide on the right.

Molesey’s number 11 pulled clear of his marker at the near post but was unable to get his head to the ball.

Kingstonian’s fortunes changed just before the half-hour mark when they levelled the score through a Mazin Ahmad penalty.

Chasing a long through ball that seemed a lost cause, Ojukwa did well to keep the ball in play a few yards from the left post of Adrian Creamer’s goal.

Without support, Ojukwa’s threat looked relatively easy to contain for Molesey’s Matt Ottley. However, the centreback dived in at the feet of the Kingstonian striker, bringing him down and giving referee Martin Yerby the most straightforward of penalty decisions.

The goal seemed to shake Molesey’s confidence, while Kingstonian were lifted by restoring parity and the home side were on top for the final 15 minutes of the half without creating any clear-cut scoring chances.

Both sides made a disjointed start to the second half, with neither able to bring any fluency to their play.

The 55th-minute introduction of substitute Tony Reid for Damian Panter added some impetus to Kingstonian’s attack and the home side started to threaten the Molesey goal with increasing regularity.

In the 61st minute, Ahmad delivered a long-range cross from the left that swung threateningly across the front of the Molesey goal but none of his teammates was able to get a foot to the ball. The home side took the lead five minutes later, thanks to a well-taken goal by Reid.

Ojukwa showed real determination as he forced his way to the by-line before sending a high cross to the far post that Reid nodded past Creamer to score.

Once ahead, Kingstonian never looked like conceding their lead, as Molesey were forced on to the defensive for much of the time remaining.

The home side should have added a third with 10 minutes remaining but Corbett sidefooted past the post with the goal begging.